Next day we went to Worms, one of the oldest cities in Germany, and significant in history (among other things) for events in the life of Martin Luther. This cathedral was also of the roman style. There was a metal model (with Braille) out front for the blind to explore the features of the building.
A gothic chapel was later added on to its side.
The simple interior was elegant.
The front area was ornate with gold leaf, however.
There were detailed 3D reliefs along the wall. They were the media of the day to teach ordinary folk (who had no books, and could not read) about what was in the Bible.
In the crypt below were stone coffins of ancient royalty.
In the gothic chapel.
The chapel windows were certainly beautiful!
There is an ancient pagan story that was (supposed) to have occurred here in Worms. (It is the story that is celebrated in Richard Wagner's Ring cycle opera.) These figures on a window of the cathedral acknowledge the pagan past of the area.
However, Worms was where Martin Luther was censured by the existing church (and state) government. This memorial to him in Worms is very complex. Those interested to understand it will learn much history and doctrine. Viktor had to circle it three times to explain the meaning of all the figures and reliefs!
It was a hot day, and we talked in the shade of the center figure. As we left, one of the guys pointed out that we had been standing in the shadow of Martin Luther!
Some blocks away was a very old Jewish cemetery (1067 AD). The old sandstone markers had moved over time, and some were no longer legible.
On a later day we went to the St Paulin baroque church.
It was VERY baroque. The ceiling was a beautiful painting, but most everything else was overdone!
